Cisco Certified Network Consulting and Support

Cisco has developed a comprehensive portfolio of wireless networking products and technologies intended to provide continual access to information and resources and to promote collaboration among workers, associates, vendors, and customers. Cisco's wireless product families include Cisco's Small Business, Aironet and Meraki series of access points (APs), plus Cisco's Wireless Network Controller modules and standalone devices. Progent's Cisco-certified wireless consulting experts can help businesses of any size to utilize Cisco wireless products to support the current model of Bring-Your-Own-Device computing by integrating their wired and wireless ecosystems to achieve simplified deployment, consistently high performance, centralized management, enterprise-wide policy, high availability (HA), and advanced protection.

The Cisco Unified Wireless architecture can scale to up to 18,000 wireless access points with full Layer 3 mobility at central or remote locations such as business campuses, college lecture halls, branches, and telecommuter homes. Cisco's 802.11x wireless access points and wireless controllers are components of Cisco's Unified Wireless Network and are designed to deliver the identical level of protection, throughput, and manageability for WLANs that businesses expect in their wired infrastructure. Cisco's architecture incorporates integrated mobility services such as VoIP, HD video, and safe guest connectivity. Cisco's Unified Wireless Network solution enables companies to build wireless ecosystems that improve the way they do business and improve output through a dynamic and collaborative employee base.

Progent's Cisco-certified network consulting services offers online or onsite support to assist you to design, configure, manage, upgrade, and repair converged wired/wireless network infrastructure of all sizes and for any venue. In addition, Progent can provide affordable online and on-premises wireless site surveys to help you to plan and install a wireless network with customized AP clustering optimized for your specific work area layout, building characteristics, and intended application.

Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst Wireless Access Points (APs)
Cisco's Small Business, Aironet, Meraki and Catalyst families of wireless access points enable you to integrate wired and wireless networks to deliver the coverage, capacity, throughput, protection and manageability needed to support virtually any scenario. Cisco's wireless access points start at entry-level, single-radio 802.11b/g/n devices with throughput of 300 Mb intended for very small businesses or home offices to 802.11ax access points suitable for handling hundreds of clients on each access point and offering sustained throughput of more than 5 Gbps. Cisco's latest selection of APs can be combined or clustered to deliver the capacity to handle wireless networks crowded with clients and with high usage rates of video-intense apps.

Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Series of Access Points
Cisco's Small Business Series of APs are Linux-powered devices designed as value-priced Wi-Fi APs for light workloads. Most versions in the Cisco Small Business portfolio of access points work with Cisco's Single Point Setup technology, which makes it possible to set up, manage and repair a group of wireless access points from a single device through an intuitive web browser interface. All models support Power over Ethernet (POE) and feature QoS, rogue AP awareness, and bridge mode for connecting to another Ethernet LAN.

Cisco's Small Business WAP121 AP is a wallmount, single-band 2.4GHz unit that can handle 16 802.11b/g/n clients, includes a Fast Ethernet port, allows up to four access pointss and 40 active wireless clients in a cluster, and supports sustained data rates of up to 300 Mbps. The Cisco WAP131 is a desktop dual-radio 802.11n access point that can handle 16 active clients on each radio for a total of up to 32 wireless clients, includes a GE port, and delivers sustained data rates of 300 Mbps per radio. The WAP131 Wireless-N does not support AP clustering. Cisco's WAP150 is a value-priced Wave 1 dual-radio AC/n AP that includes a 1xGE Poe port and can handle up to 16 clients per radio with 867 Mbps performance for AC devices and 300 Mbps for 802.11n clients. The Cisco Small Business WAP150 allows four APs for each cluster.

The Cisco Small Business WAP321 Wireless-N model is a wall-mountable single-band (either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) 802.11a/b/g/n device that can handle 80 active wireless clients in an 8-device cluster. The Cisco WAP321 features a GE port and can support a data rate of 300 Mbps for the selected radio. Cisco's Small Business WAP351 is a dual-radio 802.11a/b/g/n wireless access point that includes a 5-port Gigabit Ethernet interface and can handle 32 wireless clients on each radio for a total of up to 64 clients, and deliver a sustained data rate of 300 Mbps per radio. The WAP351 does not support clustering. Cisco's Small Business WAP361 is a dual-band Wireless-AC/N access point that includes a 5 x Gb Ethernet switch, allows 32 clients on each radio, and delivers 867 Mbps performance for 802.11ac devices and 300 Mbps for 802.11n devices. The Cisco WAP361 allows 8 access points per cluster. Cisco's wall-mountable Small Business WAP371 Wireless-AC/N is a dual-radio device that works with 802.11n and the new 802.11ac IEEE specification. The WAP371 includes a GE interface, can support up to 32 active wireless clients on each radio, and 8 APs per cluster.

Cisco's WAP561 Wireless-N Dual Radio access point features a GE port and two concurrent radios that deliver 450 Mbps performance per radio, can handle 64 clients for each radio, and allow 16 APs for each cluster. The Cisco WAP551 is similar to the WAP 561 but features a single radio selectable band (2.4 or 5.0 GHz). Cisco's WAP571 and WAP571E (a weather-proof outdoor model) are dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11ac wireless access points that feature two Gb Ethernet interfaces with link aggregation (LAG), 3x3 MIMO, and up to 1.9 Gbps performance with 1300 Mbps on 11ac and 600 Mbps on 11n. Both access points support 32 clients per radio and 16 APs on each cluster.

Cisco's Small Business WAP581 Wireless-AC Wave 2 Wireless Access Point supports the 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5 specification and offers 4x4 and 3x3 MU-MIMO to provide 2.8 Gbps data rates at 5 GHz and 0.6 Gbps at 2.4 GHz for an aggregate top data rate of 2.4 Gbps. The WAP581 includes a fixed 2.5G Ethernet port and a 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN interface with 802.3at Power over Ethernet (PoE). Cisco's WAP581 Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 AP supports as many as 200 connective users, a maximum of 50 active client users for each radio, 16 access points for each cluster, and 960 active client users per cluster.

To learn more about Progent's consulting services for current and older Cisco Small Business series of wireless APs, refer to Cisco Small Business wireless APs planning and support.

Cisco's Aironet Line of Access Points
The Aironet portfolio of wireless access points has consistently been the market leading AP product. Aironet APs run the gamut from value-priced entry-level devices to advanced units. The Aironet line span several generations of models supporting the continually improving 802 specification. Cisco's current line of Aironet APs support Cisco's Unified Wireless Network software and include 802.11ac technology, which offers three times the speed as well as greater distance and density compared to the previous generation of APs. The current multi-frequency Aironet access points can handle 802.11n at 2.4 GHz for client devices that do not have 802.11ac radios.

The earliest Aironet access points are now outdated units that have come to end-of-sale status and are no longer supported by Cisco. Progent still offers support for the complete Aironet line of access points and can assist you to manage and troubleshoot your existing Aironet wireless system or upgrade smoothly to current Aironet products. To find out more about Progent's consulting services for current and outdated Aironet access points, refer to Cisco Aironet access points planning and support.

Cisco's Meraki Wireless Access Points
Cisco's portfolio of Meraki dual-band 2.4/5 GHz indoor access points range from budget-friendly devices for small businesses to advanced units supporting as high as 5.9 Gbit/sec performance. Each Meraki indoor AP offers next-generation features like plug-and-play deployment, in-depth protection, Bring-Your-Own-Device support, extensive analytics, automatic over-the-web updates, and centralized cloud management for multiple sites. Every Meraki indoor AP also incorporates two powerful client-serving radios with enhanced reception plus a dedicated radio that provides (WIDS/WIPS) security for RF analysis and deep packet inspection.

Meraki outdoor APs are IP67 rated, designed to withstand rugged outdoor environments, and tested to withstand dust particles, vibration and moisture. Cisco's Meraki outdoor wireless access points include a 1 x Gbit Ethernet port and deliver advanced capabilities such as cloud-based management with multi-site control, 802.1X integration, built-in antivirus scan, 1-click secure guest access and isolation firewall, Layer 7 traffic shaping, plus self-configuring mesh with beamforming. To find out more about Progent's support for Meraki access points and cloud management, see Meraki wireless access points consulting.

Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Line of Wi-Fi 6 APs
Cisco's Catalyst 9100 family of Wi-Fi 6 APs are intended for environments ranging from telecommuter homes to high-density enterprise campuses. Catalyst 9100 access points are based on the 802.11ax standard, referred to as Wi-Fi 6, which in turn builds on the preceding 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) specification. As an improvement to 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 is designed to utilize both the 2.4-Ghz and 5-GHz radio bands. Headline technologies supported by Cisco Catalyst 9100 Series access points include OFDMA scheduling for high density deployments, dual NAVs for improved dependability, TWT for conserving power consumption in battery-powered endpoints, adaptive power and sensitivity thresholds for more efficient spectrum utilization, and dynamic fragmentation for reduced overhead. All Catalyst 9100 Series wireless access points can run Cisco's Embedded Wireless Controller (EWC), accommodate up to 200 clients per radio, and run on Cisco IOS XE Software. For details about Progent's support for Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax Access Points, refer to 802.11ax access points system design, deployment, and troubleshooting services.

Cisco 9800 Series 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers
Catalyst 9800 line of Wi-Fi 6-supported wireless controllers allow you to manage advanced wireless environments that support 802.11ax wireless APs. The 802.11ax standard, popularly known as Wi-Fi 6, builds on previous generation 802.11ac (called Wi-Fi 5) devices by delivering lower latency and more predictable performance, allowing higher client density, offering enhanced security, conserving energy for battery-dependent handheld devices, and allowing more versatility for handling new kinds of Internet-of-Things endpoints. Cisco's Catalyst 9800 Series wireless controllers feature high availability with transparent software upgrades, hot patching, and the ability to connect additional Wi-Fi access points with zero disruption of service. Enhanced security features include Cisco Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS), image signing, and Software-Defined Access. Streaming telemetry permits you to track and analyze network and endpoint health.

All controllers in the Catalyst 9800 family are powered by Cisco's IOS XE Software and operate with Cisco's DNA Center (DNAC) or with Prime Infrastructure network management tools. Catalyst 9800 Series wireless LAN controllers can manage Cisco Aironet Wi-Fi 5 Wave 1 and Wave 2 Wi-Fi access points as well as Cisco Catalyst 9100 Wi-Fi 6 access points. To learn more about Progent's support for Cisco 9800 line of Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Controllers, refer to Catalyst 9800 family of Wi-Fi 6 wireless controllers system design, deployment, and management consulting.

Cisco Wave 2 Wireless Network Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 wireless controllers allow fast communication, configuration, management, analysis and debugging for Cisco Wi-Fi appliances and software services. Cisco has developed both physical and software-based Wi-Fi controllers for unified administration of wireless networks, but WLANs with a large number of Wi-Fi access points typically require physical Wi-Fi controllers. Current generation Wi-Fi controller appliances from Cisco offer major benefits in comparison to Wave 1 and older models including higher throughput, simultaneous support for 1G and 10G interfaces, improved application visibility and control (AVC), and hardened, integrated security.

Cisco's 3504 WiFi Controller is a value-priced appliance with a desktop form factor and intended for small and medium-sized businesses. You can install the 3504 model in a centralized network environment such as in lean branch and remote offices managed across the wide-area network with FlexConnect, or in bridge installations where Ethernet cabling is sparse. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller supports up to 150 WiFi access points and 3,000 users, delivers 4 Gbps performance, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. Cisco's 3504 controller includes a Cisco Multigigabit interface (up to 5 Gigabit Ethernet) and four 1-GB Ethernet interfaces. APs can be attached to the controller through two PoE ports. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller offers subsecond failover for access points and users, which provides high availability for apps. As with other Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers available from Cisco, the 3504 model has the integrated capability to communicate with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 WiFi controllers.

Cisco's 5520 Wireless Controller, offered in a 1RU enclosure, is intended to support midsize to large organizations and campus environments and can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments. The 5520 Wi-Fi controller can handle up to 1,500 Wi-Fi access points and 20,000 clients, offers 20 Gbps throughput, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 WiFi controller includes two 10 GE interfaces and features SSD storage, backup fans, optional backup power supplies, and rapid failover for nonstop availability.

Cisco's 8540 Wireless Controller, offered in a 2 rack unit enclosure, is a high-end wireless controller intended to support large enterprises, service providers, and large campus environments. The 8540 Wireless controller can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh architectures and supports as many as 6,000 APs and 64,000 clients. The 8540 WiFi controller can deliver throughput up to 40 Gbps and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 8540 controller includes four 1-GB or 10GE interfaces and features solid-state storage, redundant power supplies, backup fans, and rapid failover.

Wave 1 Cisco Wireless Network Controllers
Cisco wireless LAN controllers cut the effort and cost needed to deploy, monitor, and troubleshoot wireless networks by offering single-point control of critical functions like provisioning wireless access points, applying single-point policies across wired/wireless networks, supporting enterprise-wide QoS for voice and video, tracking and troubleshooting system performance, implementing intrusion prevention tools to guard against unauthorized access and DDoS attacks, and managing IPv6 and dual-stack clients. Cisco has developed wireless LAN controllers for organizations of all sizes and can provide standalone desktop appliances, modular add-on wireless controllers for Cisco ISR routers and switches, and switches with built-in wireless LAN controllers.

Cisco's Wave 1 wireless network controllers incorporate Cisco CleanAir tools to minimize RF interference and produce self-optimizing wireless networks for top 802.11n and 802.11ac performance and protection. Built-in Apple Bonjour Gateways permit discovery throughout the enterprise for Apple-based applications. For high availability (HA), Cisco wireless network controllers allow access point and client stateful switchover by enabling a standby HA wireless controller to synch with a primary controller for AP license count, CAPWAP state and roaming keys, and access point CAPWAP state. In case the main controller fails, thousands of wireless access points and clients can switchover in less than a second to the backup wireless controller.

Cisco's Wireless Controller Module for ISR Routers with UCS-E provides entry-level 802.11n and 802.11ac capability for 2900 and 3900 routers deployed by small to medium-sized businesses and branches. This affordable and scalable solution can handle up to 200 access points and as many as 6000 wireless clients. (For information about Progent's remote and onsite consulting support services for Cisco routers, see Cisco router configuration and management services.)

Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU switches intended for small to mid-size businesses and branch offices and features an integrated wireless controller with the capability to handle 40 Gb of wireless throughput per switch and 25 APs and 1000 clients on each switch or stack. Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU switches intended for midsize and large organizations and feature an integrated wireless controller supporting up to 40 Gb of wireless throughput per switch and the ability to handle up to 50 APs and 2000 wireless clients. The WiSM2 is an add-in blade for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches with a built-in wireless LAN controller designed for mid-to-large size businesses and capable of 20 Gbps throughput and able to handle 1000 access points and up to 15,000 clients. (To find out about Progent's support for Cisco switches, see Cisco Catalyst switches deployment and management consulting.)

Cisco 2500 Wireless Controllers are economical desktop units that streamline the deployment and operation of wireless LANs for SMBs and satellite offices. The 2500 Series wireless controller can handle from five to 75 wireless access points and up to 1000 wireless clients and can deliver throughput of up to 1 Gbps.

Cisco's 5500 Series Wireless Controller is a scalable 1RU unit designed for mid-to-large sized organizations and campuses and can manage 500 access points and 7,000 clients while delivering 8 Gbps throughput. Cisco's 5760 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance designed for mid-to-large campus environments with support for 1000 wireless access points and 12,000 wireless clients and offering performance of 60 Gbps to handle high client densities and high amounts of video-intensive applications.

The Cisco Flex 7500 Wireless Controller is intended to manage thousands of wireless branches from a single datacenter, eliminating the costs of a wireless controller at each branch. The 1RU rackmount Flex 7500 appliance allows you to establish a private cloud to configure, monitor, maintain, and repair up to 6000 APs and 64,000 clients while supporting 1 Gbps performance. The Cisco 8500 Wireless Controller is a 1RU appliance designed to manage wireless networks for very large campuses or service providers and can be expanded to handle up to 6000 wireless points and 64,000 clients while delivering 10 Gbps performance.

To learn more about Cisco wireless controllers, visit Cisco wireless controllers consulting services.

Legacy Cisco Wireless Access Points, LAN Bridges and Controllers Supported by Progent
The introduction of the 802.11ac standard for Wi-Fi largely rendered obsolete all previous generations of Wi-Fi products for many venues that have high numbers of clients and high incidence of HD video software applications. Even for businesses who do not currently need the bandwidth efficiency of 802.11ac Wi-Fi, many of Cisco wireless products have reached end-of-sale or end-of-support status, which can pose significant maintenance and regulatory compliance problems. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting experts provide online and onsite support for a broad array of earlier-generation Cisco wireless products. Progent can also help companies to evaluate the business case for updating legacy wireless technology and can assist in planning and executing affordable, non-disruptive upgrades. The following are a few of Cisco older-generation Wi-Fi devices that Progent's consultants continue to support.

Legacy Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points
Aironet 1000/1130AG Series wireless access points are intended for offices and similar locations which have little environmental variability. These access points include built-in antennas that provide dependable radio range profiles. The 1130G family wireless access point is offered for regulated domains that do not permit 802.11a/5GHz operation.

Cisco Aironet 1230AG or 1240AG family APs are designed for more challenging RF environments such as factories and warehouses or above suspended ceilings which tend to require flexible protruding antennas and ruggedized enclosures. The Cisco Aironet 1240G Series access point is available for controlled domains that do not allow 802.11a operation.

Aironet 1500 Series lightweight outdoor mesh APs provide an affordable, expandable, secure outdoor wireless technology for campus areas and for public venues that need connectivity for mobile phones or computers.

Legacy Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Bridges
Cisco wireless bridges provide a high-performance and feature-rich solution for connecting multiple local area networks in a metro situation or public access network. Cisco Aironet wireless LAN bridges provide a flexible, manageable technology that meets the protection needs of public networking professionals. These devices manage both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint deployments with excellent range and support for data rates as high as 54 Mbps.

Cisco wireless bridges offer throughput significantly faster than E1/T1 links for far less cost, erasing the need for costly leased lines when linking separate buildings. Since wireless bridges require no periodic costs, savings on leased-line services rapidly cover the startup equipment investment. Private lines and even leased lines using metal or optical cable can result in high initial expenses if they are impeded by barriers like highways, train tracks, or lakes and rivers. Cisco Aironet wireless LAN bridges can be deployed rapidly an offer a fast ROI.

Cisco 1300 Series outside wireless access points/bridges can be implemented as independent access points, bridges, or workgroup bridges. These devices have a ruggedized cover and provide high-speed, economical wireless connectivity between numerous fixed or mobile networks and users.

Cisco Aironet 1400 family bridges offer high-performance, dependable outside connections for line-of-sight (LOS) applications. They are housed in an all-weather enclosure that can hold up to harsh outside conditions and can operate within broad temperature ranges.

Legacy Cisco Wireless Controllers
Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers centralize the management of wireless LANs by streamlining the control of key technologies including intrusion prevention, fast RF management, automatic deployment, and N+1 redundancy. Cisco WLAN controllers operate with lightweight APs to offer enhanced performance and high-end control capabilities.

WLAN Controllers (WLCs) offer the manageability, scalability, protection, and resilience that network managers need to build secure, large-scale wireless environments, from branch offices to small companies to headquarter campuses. Cisco's first-generation Wireless Controllers can be configured together to offer accommodation for as many as 2400 wireless access points for each roaming domain.

Cisco's WLCM or WLCM-E Wireless LAN Controller Module for IS Routers offers small-to medium businesses (SMBs) and large corporations an affordable solution to implement and manage secure wireless LANs at satellite locations. These wireless LAN controllers manage up to a dozen Aironet access points and are installable in 2800/3800 Routers and 3700 Series Routers. (To find out concerning Progent's online and onsite consulting support for Cisco routers, see Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting services.)

How Progent's Consultants Can Assist You with Cisco Wireless Devices
Progent can provide access to a Cisco-certified expert to assist you to design, deploy, maintain and troubleshoot a converged wired/wireless infrastructure incorporating a wide range of wireless technologies that offer the identical protection, expandability, and ease of management you demand from your wired environment. Progent can assist you to manage legacy Wi-Fi products from Cisco or upgrade seamlessly to the latest 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 technology. Progent's CISM, CISSP, and ISSAP security consultants can show you how to build security into your WLAN and into your business processes. Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants and business continuity consultants can assist you to configure the HA technology incorporated into Cisco's wired/wireless technologies so your converged network provides non-stop business value.

Progent’s Wireless Site Survey helps you to design and implement a state-of-the-art wireless network customized for your environment, offering a Wi-Fi ecosystem that delivers seamless coverage, high speed and capacity, Quality of Service features to support IP video, advanced security, and simplified management. Progent's Wi-Fi Site Survey can be delivered remotely to reduce time and expense, or on premises to deal with more difficult environments.

For a further discussion of Progent's wireless consulting capabilities, see Progent's Wireless LAN Help.

To see additional details about Progent's engineering expertise for Cisco technology, pick a topic:

• Introduction to Cisco Expertise
• Fast Online Support from a CCIE Consultant
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Configuration and Management Support
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewall with Cisco Firepower Services: Integration and Troubleshooting Support
• ASA 5500 Firewalls Upgrade. Migration Help
• Cisco PIX Firewall Management Services
• Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Services
• Aironet APs Deployment Expertise
• Cisco Small Business WiFi Access Points Deployment Support
• Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 APs Planning, Deployment and Debugging Consulting
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Support Services
• Cisco Meraki Wireless APs Design Help
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Integration and Technical Support
• Cisco Voice over IP Phones and IP Video Phones Consulting Services and Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone Solutions
• Cisco Jabber Consulting and Support Services
• Catalyst Switches Engineering Services
• Nexus Switches Support and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco Meraki Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Cisco VPN and Security Integration Help
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunks and Cisco CUBE Integration Expertise
• Infrastructure Design for Cisco-based Datacenters and Colocation Centers
• Network Design Expertise for Internet Service Providers
• Remote Network Management Solutions for Cisco-based Environments